Here's the next chapter :D Hope you guys enjoy!
Please excuse any spelling/grammar errors :3
A few weeks had passed since her run in with Erza, the incident that got Mirajane thinking.
Maybe she should start to go on jobs again?
It's not like she totally hated it when she was younger, in fact she really enjoyed getting to travel, but ever since Lisanna … her magic hadn't been particularly stable. Which is exactly how she found herself a ways outside of Magnolia on her day off from the bar.
The young pin-up model was somewhere deep in the forest, had her hand resting on a boulder, and was trying to summon only the strength of Satan Soul to her right hand. It was something she was easily able to do when she was in her prime, but now she found it more difficult.
The magic glowed around her hand and she started to clench at the edges of the rock. It cracked instantly, but her hand started transforming into the signature claw of Satan Soul, not what she wanted to see. In a huff of frustration she shattered the entire boulder with ease, but sighed while staring at her now-clawed hand.
"It was so much easier when I used this magic on a day to day basis," she leaned against a nearby tree and slid down it. Mirajane closed her eyes and rested her head against the trunk. The transformation on her hand released a second later, but she stayed put. Folding her hands together she decided to meditate for a while, focusing on expanding her magic energy and contracting it. Sending the power of certain take-overs to specific areas of her body and then retracting it. All things that she used to do on a regular basis.
Her list of demons was like Erza's armor, she couldn't even begin to count them. All of them are accessible to her, it just depends on how much magic power she has available. Satan Soul is her main demon, much like Erza's main armor is Heaven's Wheel, and if she needed more power she'd advance through the take-overs. That rarely ever happened though; even S-class missions could be done with just Satan Soul.
Although lying dormant for a few years, her magic power still continued to grow and expand, especially since she naturally has an over-flowing abundance of it. It felt extremely foreign yet somewhat comforting to start working with her magic again – to start embracing it again.
It was about two months later when she felt she was ready to start taking on jobs, maybe something small just to get her feet wet.
In the same clearing she had been training the last couple of months, she began to undergo the regimen she made for herself. Starting with breaking boulders with her untransformed arms and legs.
Standing in the middle of a circle with four boulders, she focused her magical energy in her feet and legs. Proceeding to move with astonishing speed, she broke each boulder into dust with a single chop.
After that it was endurance training. She brought forth the full take-over of Satan Soul, feeling her entire body change as she shifted from human to demon.
It was a simple test really, she flew around for a few hours at various speeds while conducting small attacks that wouldn't change the landscape of the forest, and then switched to her other take-overs and did the same thing. After she went through her three main take-overs, she shifted back to herself and completely suppressed her magic while timing how fast it was regenerating.
Another part of it was using her demon-senses while she wasn't in their form. Just releasing the seal on her magic made them increase tenfold, but if she actually trained them it wasn't so overwhelming. The senses of her demons are on par with a dragon slayer's, and maybe even more sensitive, but it worked to her advantage if she could access them with ease.
This was the basic foundation of her training. Sometimes she'd include different things depending on the day or what she felt needed work, but it all kept her moving in the right direction.
Maybe it seemed extensive to other people, but with her type of magic, she could never be too careful. Especially if she wanted to start taking jobs again. Who knows when she would have to retain her demon form for hours at a time, or repeatedly use it? Without training, she could use Satan Soul about once or twice before losing all of her magic. With training, she could hold it for long periods of time and have quick rebounds. She also needed time to get familiar with her magic again, to get comfortable with it again.
The entire guild noticed Mira's absence. After starting her training, she resigned from her duties at the bar, earning many tears from the male customers. When people asked where she was going, she just responded with a smile and said she wanted to take a break for a little while. She stopped by the guild every now and then though, but it had been a few weeks since her last visit.
Which is why the guild went completely bonkers when she walked in that morning.
Mira had long since ditched her frilly pink dress when it got shredded during that incident with Erza. She had others, of course, but those weren't suitable to train in and she preferred to save them for casual wear. Instead she opted for tank top, shorts, and combat boots, sometimes with a leather jacket if it wasn't too warm. Her hair was down as per usual, but occasionally she put it into different styles.
"Mirajane!" all the men exclaimed with hearts in their eyes.
"Hi everyone!" she greeted with a cheery smile.
The poor ex-barmaid was bombarded with questions. It was intense, considering she hadn't been in the guild for a few weeks. Patiently she answered everyone and apologized for worrying them all, working her way through the sea of people who surrounded her towards the job board.
That's when it became so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone was gawking watching the self-proclaimed 'retired mage' look over the requests at the board, and she looked like she was dressed to go on a mission too. The familiar clink of armor came up behind her, not flinching at all when a metal glove plopped down on her shoulder.
"So, you've been training?" Erza smiled at her.
"Mmhmm," she didn't turn around, but could hear the pleased tone in her voice and assumed she was smiling. "I can't figure out which job to pick though. It's a bit nerve wracking I guess, trying to pick a job after being in retirement so long."
"Come with me, I think I know the perfect job for you," Erza grabbed her hand and led her upstairs, the guild continuing on now that they couldn't listen in.
"An S-class mission? I don't know … I'm just coming back," Mira got very anxious at the thought of an S-class mission being her fist mission after so long.
"Relax, it's one that's right up your alley," Erza stopped in front of the S-class request board and let go of Mira's hand. "It came in a few days ago, and I was thinking of taking it, but it seems perfect for you," she tore the piece of paper off the board and handed it to Mira. "Here, just read it."
"Alright," she took the paper in her hands with a skeptical look, casting her eyes downwards to read the request.
S-class Mission
Wanted – Bodyguard
A bodyguard is needed to protect the son of Lord Fukikai, who will be travelling one-way from Magnolia to Crocus during these next few weeks.
Bodyguard is requested to be preferably one person, maximum two people, being of S-class rank. They should be able to easily blend in with the entourage and react accordingly in every possible situation.
The Young Lord already has a full bodyguard team with him at all times, but a mage is requested with the prediction of attacks ranging from magic-using bandits to fully trained magic-using assassins.
Reward: 10,000,000 Jewel
"You're insane if you think I can take this mission!" she paused, speaking again when Erza went to say something. "Especially since it's my first mission back."
"Think about it. You'll easily blend in, and you're able to completely mask your magical energy. Your senses are extremely acute, and you're incredibly strong. This will be perfect for you."
"I don't know…" she started to get nervous again. The requip mage made it sound so easy, but she hadn't been retired for these last few years like the demon mage had.
"Tell me, down stairs, what is Macao saying right now?"
Without second thought, Mirajane answered.
"Macao? He and Wakaba are talking about the new issue of The Weekly Sorcerer, apparently it's featuring this new young model named Jenny. She's from Blue Pegasus and according to them very good looking. Oh, apparently she looks up to me and is upset about my recent absence from modeling."
"Mira, I can't even hear anything going on down stairs, and you're able to pick out individual voices. You'd be absolutely perfect for this job! I'm signing you up, and you can't go back on it. Fairy Tail never goes back on an accepted request," Erza grabbed the paper and headed towards the Master's office.
"Wait!" Mira chased after her, but the young scarlet was already speaking with the head of their guild.
"Mirajane wants to take a job?!" the master had spit out his beer all over his paperwork, gaping at the girl in armor who proudly held the request out to him.
"I believe she's the most suitable wizard for this job. She's been training too, she's ready," Erza nodded, quite proud of herself.
"Oh, aren't you a sight for sore eyes, Mira! Haven't seen you around lately," Master glanced at her and could immediately tell the change in her. She had grown so much in these past few months, it made him so happy.
"Master! You aren't supposed to start the day off drinking, and have you taken your medication?!" she ran over to him, expertly taking the beer out of his hands and glaring at him slightly.
"Somethings never change," he sighed. "I'm sorry Mira, but I promise every other day I've been waiting until the end of the day until-"
He was cut off by Mira summoning a very large, very scary, aura. Something he hadn't felt in such a long time, and although terrified, made him feel so good to see.
"Take your medication, right now!" she demanded.
"Ok, ok," he grumbled, going through the beer-soaked papers on his desk to find his pills. He popped them into his mouth, and Mira happily handed him the glass in her hand. It was once filled with beer, but now with water.
'Sneaky girl. Sharp as ever, I see,' he gulped down the water and his medicine along with it.
"Master, I leave for a little while and you've got yourself all messed up," she applied some magic to the papers on his desk, drying them instantly and getting rid of the smell of alcohol. "I never should've left," she shook her head at herself and began tiding his desk.
"Mira," Master called gently, to which she knelt down to his level. "Mira, you're such a sweet and caring girl, you're so kind. I've greatly appreciated everything you've done for me, but please, take this job. You owe it to yourself, my child. You're more than capable."
"But-"
"No buts. You're more than ready, and this is me giving you the right push you need," he sounded so wise and humble for a moment, before he used his giant's magic to make his arm grow and slap her butt.
"Master!" she knocked him on the head, to which he giggled like a school-boy.
"Now that that's settled, let's approve this quest for Mira," Erza interrupted.
"Alright," the small old man pulled a giant book out from underneath his desk, The S-class Job Requests book. "Mira, you know the drill," he handed her a pen, to which she shakily took.
Her sapphire eyes stared at the confirmation forms for what seemed to be an eternity, before Erza's hand guided hers to the writing line. Titania nodded at her, keeping a reassuring hand on her shoulder as the angelic female slowly filled out the required information. Once done, the lettering glowed and the Fairy Tail emblem appeared on the job request, signaling that it had been accepted by said guild.
"I'll call ahead to the clients and confirm that you've accepted the job. I'm proud of you, Mira," Master genuinely smiled before turning to his communication lacrima, applying magic to it so it would contact the clients.
The crystal ball glowed and rang until someone picked up.
"Hello?" the voice spoke, showing the owner to be a young male appearing to be a servant of sorts.
"This is Master Makarov of Fairy Tail speaking. I have an S-class mage who accepted your request for a bodyguard, and am requesting the rendezvous location. I highly recommend her, she's one of the strongest in my guild."
"A female? That works wonderfully, she can pose as the Young Lord's mistress. Please inform her to bring attire to fit the role, and we shall be at your guild tomorrow morning at eight to collect her."
"I'll pass the information along," he went to hang up, but the male on the other end waved his hand at him to wait.
"Oh, before you go, the mage's name please?"
"Mirajane. Mirajane Strauss."
Sooooooooooooo, what'cha think?
I tried to make everything make as much sense as possible lol. Keep the reviews coming, they motivate me to update!
Author out~ *coolly disappears into the shadows*